Carriage Houses: What Are They?
Carriage houses originated in Great Britain during the 1700’s. The structure was built by the well-to-do to house their carriages on the lower level and provide living quarters above for their coachmen. As road systems grew and improved in the U.S. during the 1800’s, carriage houses began to appear here, primarily in the northeastern section of the country.
Today, carriage houses are small second homes or garage apartments, small homes, guest houses, detached garages, home offices, studio spaces, or in-law suites.
Read this: What is a Carriage House
Top Features
Carriage houses are compact, therefore the structures will fit in confined spaces. However, carriage homes are equally suited to large build sites.
Their footprint is either square or rectangle, which translates to easier maintenance and more efficiency in cooling and heating.
The post and beam carriage house provides for both vehicle storage and living space within a handsome structure. Architectural styles are as varied as they are for standard homes. Victorian style architecture remains popular in the northeast as this was the period when carriage houses were originally built in the United States.
What To Know
The primary living space is always on the second level of a carriage house. Sometimes referred to as an “upside-down home”, the upper level consists of an apartment-like space. A very nice one, complete with a post and beam frame and vaulted ceilings. The vaulted ceilings create the feeling of larger volumes of space than the square footage implies. Oversize or massing of windows are used to allow for great views and maximum natural light to fill the interior space.
When Yankee Barn Homes custom designs and builds a carriage house, we use post and beam on the second floor while the lower garage/storage level consists of our True Panel System and a steel “I” beam. Our post and beam carriage houses use home-quality insulation and heating/cooling for the lower level, as the space is for living and storage.
